Type-writing machine.



No. 738,194. PATENTED SEPT. 8, 1903. J. H. HOTSON.

TYPE WRITING MACHINE.

APPLIGATIOR FILED D150. 2, 1902.

K0 MODEL. 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

attouwh d a E No. 738,194. PATENTED SEPT. 8, 1903. J. H. HOTSON. TYPEWRITING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 2, 1902.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

NO MODEL $14 own- '04 Qwmmm UNITED STATES Patented September 8, 1903.

JOHN H. noTsoN, or New YoRK, N. r.

TYPE-WRITING MACHINE;

SPECIFIGATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 738,194, datedSeptember 8, 1903.

Application filed December 2,1902. Serial No, 133,550. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN H. HOTsON, a citizen of the United States, anda resident of Brooklyn, in the city and State of New York, have inventeda certain new and useful Improvement in TypelVriting Machines, of whichthe following is a specification.

In application Serial No. 132,841, filed the 26th of November, 1902, Ihave described the combinatioinwith a keyboard and a space-key locatedin front thereof, of a vertically-depressible shift-key located in frontof the said space-key, so that the shift-keymay be actuated by acontinuation of the same downward movement of the thumb which depressesthe space-key.

My present invention relates to the embodiment of the same principle ofoperation in machines which do not admit of locating the depressibleshift-key within the frame immediately in front of the keyboard.

To this end my invention consists in combining with the keyboard and adepressible space key or keys located in front of said keyboard withinthe frame a depressible thumbkey connected with the shifting mechanismby which the relative position of the platen and type is changed andlocated in front of the frame in such relation to the depressiblespace-key that said shift-key may be actuated by a continuation of thesame downward stroke of the thumb which actuatcs the space-key.

My invention is fully disclosed in the following description, and, byway of example, its application to a type-writer of the Remington classis illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is aplan view of so much of the lower part of a type-writing machine as isnecessary to illustrate the invention. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of theshift-key and carriageshifting device connected therewith, the front barof the frame being shown in section. Fig. 3 is a detail section showingthe joint by which the shift-key is connected to its operatinglevers, soas to enable said shift-key to be folded compactly against the front ofthe frame when not in use, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2,

1 represents the frame of aRemington typewriter; 2, the type-keys, theposition of which is indicated diagrammatically; 3, the usualspacing-bar, and 4: 4c the space-levers on which it is mounted, the saidspace-levers being broken off, as their mode of attachment andconnection to the shifting carriage is well known in the art, and myinvention does not involve any special construction thereof.

The shift-key 5 is preferably formed with a slightly-concave uppersurface and in the general form shown in Figs. 1 and 2, locatedcentrally in front of the frame 1, as near thereto asto permit its freevertical move= ment, and extends downward and backward beneath the frontbar and within the frame 1, where its laterallyextended ends areconnected by knuckle-joints to the ends of the horizontal shift-levers(i (i, fixed at their rear ends to a rock-shaft 7, which is pivoted atits ends to plates 8 S, fastened bybolts or screws 9 to the inner faceof the respective side bars.

of the frame 1. To the rear face of the rockshaft 7 are fixed rigid arms10 10, carrying a weight 11 to counterbalance the shift-bar 5 and itsarms 6 and retain the said shift-bar normally in the elevated positionshown in Fig. 2. One of the arms 6 is formed with an upward] y-pro,jectin g check 6" for the reception of a pivoted link 12, which isthreaded to receive the lower end of a rod 13, pivoted by its upper endat 14: to the L-shapcd shift-lever 15 of usual form, which is fulcrumedat 16 and connected at its upper end with the trackbar 17, on which runsthe concave-faced roller 18, pivoted to the platen-carriage 19, so as toshift the same back and forth in customary manner by the oscillatingmovement of. the L-shaped lever 15.

20 represents the customary rocking plate, through the medium of whichthe rod 13 is pivoted to the lever 15 and by the shifting of which onits pivot 20 to either extremity of its stroke permitted by the movementof the screw or pin 21: in segment-slot22 in said plate 20 the line ofpull of the rod 13 is changed to either side of the fulcrum-point 16, sothat the platen-carriage is held normally at either extremity ofitsback-and-forth movement and thrown to the other extremity of suchmovement by the depression of the shift-key.

In the operation of type-writing machines it occurs in a large majorityof instances that the operation of the shift key or bar for the printingof a capital letter or special character is preceded by the operation ofthe space-bar. It will be apparent that the location of the shift key orbar directly in front of and slightly below the space-bar greatlyfacilitates this operation by permitting the depression of the shift-keydirectly after the spacebar by a single stroke or downward movement ofthe thumb. To further facilitate the single movement of the thumb instriking first the space-bar and then the shift-key, I provide in frontof the space-bar a roller 23, mounted by pivots at its ends incheek-plates 24, fixed to the ends of the space-bar 3, the saidspace-bar being preferably recessed in its forward edge to receive therear side of the said roller, as shown. A cushion 25 is applied to thebottom of the frame to receive the impact of the key 5 caused by thecounterweight 11 after said key is depressed. The knuckle joints, bywhich the shift-key 5 is connected to the levers 6 6, consist ofgudgeons 26, turning in loops 27 on the ends of the levers, saidgudgeons having shoulders 28, which in the operative position of the keyrest on shoulders 29, projecting from the loops 27, so as to affordrigid bearings for the key against the levers when pressed downward andto permit the key to be folded back compactly against the frame, asshown in dotted lines in Fig. 2, when not in use, so that it maypresentno obstruction in putting on the cover. A spring 30, fixed at its innerend to the base of the key by a screw 31 and turned up at its free endand provided with aV-shaped lug 32, catching in notches in the loop 27retains the folding key in either position of ad justment, so as toprevent accidental movement therefrom, while permitting it to be turnedby application of moderate force. if the front of the frame is not ,highenough at the bottom to allow of the free operation of the shift-key andits levers, the machine is raised by providing thereon higher feet orstandards. If the front frame of the machine projects up so'high that itstands in the way of the easy transition of the thumb from the spacingto the shifting key, the front of the frame is cut down to a suitableheight. For assembling the folding shift-key and the shifting-levers onwhich it works one or both of the bearingloops are left open, as shownat 36, and the extremity of the corresponding gudgeon is formed with aprojecting ear 35 in such position that by folding the key completelyback between the levers saidear35 will pass through the opening 36 andwhen the key is turned forward into position for use will engage theouter edge of the bearing-loop, so as to retain the parts in theirconnected relation.

In my application, Serial No. 132,8l-Lt, filed November26,1902,hereinbefore referred to, I have shown and described and claimedthe combination, with the keyboard and a depressible space-key locatedin front of the same, of a vertically-depressible shift-keylocated infront of the space-key, so as to permit the operation of theshift-keybya continuation of the same downward movement of the thumb bywhich the space-key is operated. In the illustration of this inventionshown in mysaid application Serial No. 132,844 the shift-key is locatedimmediately in front of the space-key and within the frame of themachine. I therefore do not claim, broadly, in the present application avertically-depressible shift-key located in front of the space-key, soas to be operated by a continuation of the downward movement of thethumb which actuates the space-key; but my present improvement islimited to a combination in which the vertically-depressible shift-keyis located in front of the frame of the machine, so that the improvementmay be utilized in a machine in which room does not exist within theframe for both space-key and shift-key in front of the keyboard.

Having thus described my invention, the

following is what I claim as new therein and desire to secure by LettersPatent:

1. In type-writing machines which have a single keyboard and a shiftingmechanism for changing the relative position of the platen and the type,in order to allow a selected character to reach the printing-point, incombination with a depressible space-key located in front of thekeyboard, a downwardly-depressible shift-key connected with the shiftingmechanism for actuating the same, located in front of the frame andsufficiently close thereto to permit the depression of said shift key bya continuation of the same movement which depresses the space-key,substantially as described.- Z

2. In type-writing machines which have a single keyboard and a shiftingmechanism for changing the relative position of the platen and the type,in order to allow a selected character to strike the printing-point, incombination with a depressible space-key lying in front of the keyboard,a downwardly-depressible shift-key connected to the shifting mechanismfor actuating the same, located conveniently close in front of the frameand having its upper side lower than the upper side of the space-key, soas to hinder striking the one for the other and so that the thumb orfinger of the operator, after striking the space-key and effecting thespace passes directly downward and forward to the shiftkey and depressesthe same, effecting both spacing and shifting with substantially oneunbroken movement.

3. In type-writing machines having asingle keyboard and a shiftingmechanism for changing the relative position of the platen and type inorder to permit a selected character to strike the printingpoint thecombination of a depressible space-key located in front of the keyboard,a rotatable roller mounted on the front edge of said space-key, and ashiftkey located in front of the frame and below the level of thespace-key, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

4. In type-writing machines which have a single keyboard and a shiftingmechanism for changing the relative position of the platen and the type,in order to allow a selected character to strike the printing-point; thecombination of a depressible space-key located in front of theletter-keys and a downwardly-depressible thumb shift-key located outsidethe frame centrally in front of the depressible space-key, and adaptedto be operated by downward pressure of the thumbs while the fingersretain their normal position over the keyboard customary in touchoperating; as explained.

5. In type-writing machines which shift the platen in order to print aselected character; the combination of a depressible space-key lying infront of the keyboard, and a depressi ble shift-key connected to theplaten, the de pression of which shift-key effects the shifting of theplaten and lying conveniently close in front of the frame, and havingits upper side lower than the upper side of the spacekey so as to hinderstriking the one for the other, and so that the thumb or finger of theoperator, after striking the spacekey and effecting the space passesdirectly downward and forward to the shift-key and depresses the same,effecting both spacing and shifting with substantially one unbrokenmovement.

6. In type-writing machines which shift the platen in order to print aselected character; the combination of a depressible space-key lying infront of the keyboard, a depressible shift-key connected to the platen,thedepression of which shift-key effects the shifting of the platen andlying conveniently close in front of the frame, and having its upperside lower than the upper side of the space-key so as to hinder strikingthe one for the other, and so that the thumb or finger of the operator,after striking the spacekey and effecting the space passes directlydownward and forward to the shift-key and depresses the same, effectingboth spacing and shifting with substantially one unbroken movement, anda lightly-turnin g roller on the front edge of the space-key for thepurpose of facilitating the thumb in gliding off the space -key onto theshift-key when a capital letter is to be written immediately following aspace, and also for the purpose of hindering the accidental depressionof the space-key by the thumb or finger scraping against it when theintention is only to depress the shift-key.

7. In type-writing machines which shift the platen in order to print aselected character; the combination of a depressible space-key lying infront of the keyboard; a depressible shift-key connected to the platento shift the same, located directly in front of the frame, having itsupper surface slightlyconcave and rising a little toward the front, sothat the thumb or finger of the operator, after striking the space-keyand effecting the space passes directly downward and forward to theshiftkey and depresses the same, effecting both spacing and shiftingwith substantially one unbroken movement; and a lightly-turning rolleron the front edge of the space-key, substantially as and for thepurposes set forth.

8. In type-writing machines which have a single keyboard and a shiftingmechanism for changing the relative position of the platen and the typein order to allow a selected character to reach the printing-point, thecombination of a depressible space-key located in front of the keyboard,a shifting mechanism for changing the relative position of the platenand the type, and a depressible shift-key located in front of the frameand connected to the shifting mechanism by a folding joint, enabling thefolding of the said shiftkey Over the front of the frame when not inuse, substantially as described.

0. In type-writing machines which have a single keyboard and a shiftingmechanism for changing the relative position of the platen and the typein order to allow a selected character to reach the printing-point; thecombi nation of a depressible space-key located in front of thekeyboard, a shifting mechanism for changing the relative position of theplaten and the type, and a depressible shift-key located in front of theframe and consisting of a nearly horizontal top to receive the pressureof the thumb or thumbs, projecting backward from a supporting part whichis connected to the shifting mechanism through the medium of a suitablerock-shaft to enable the folding of the shift-key against and over thefront of the machine, substantially as described.

10. In type-writing machines which have a single keyboard and a shiftingmechanism for changing the relative position of the platen and the typein order to allow a selected character to reach the printing-point; thecombination of a depressible space-key located in front of the keyboard,a shifting mechanism for changing the relative position of the platenand the type, and a depressible shift-key located in front of the frameand consisting of a nearly horizontal top, to receive the pressure ofthe thumb or thumbs projecting backward from a supporting part havinggudgeons journaled in bearings in the shift-levers and having an angularmovement limited by ears and bearing-shoulders adapting the saidshiftkey to be folded compactly against the front of the frame when notin'use and to be placed in rigid operative relation to the shift-leverswhen in use, substantially as described.

11. In type-writing machines which have a single keyboard and a shiftingmechanism for changing the relative position of the platen and the type,in order to enable a selected character to reach the pr intin g-point;the combination of a depressible space-key located in front of thekeyboard, a depressible shift-key connectedwith the shifting mechanismand ion beneath the front of the frame to receive located in front ofthe frame in convenient the impact of the shift-key connection inrisposition to be depressed by a continuation of ing', substantially asdescribed.

the same movement of the thumb or thumbs JOHN H. HOTSON. 5 whichdepresses the space-key, means for au- \Vitnesses:

tomaticaily restoring the shift-key to its up- OCTAVIUS KNIGHT,

per position after it is depressed and a cush- JOSEPH J. SCHMIDT.

